How do I love thee? Let me
count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
my soul can reach when feeling out of sight for
the end of being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love the purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
in my old grief’s, and with my childhoods’ faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
with my lost saints, I love thee with the breadth,
smiles, tears of all my life! – And If God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.